Independence Struggles and Political Development in South America

1. Political
Developments In
South America

2. Part I
South America Before Colonialisation

3. The Maya Civilization
• It was a Mesoamerican civilization.
• The people did not call themselves "Maya" and did
not have a sense of common identity or political
unity.
• Today their descendants are over 6 million in number
speaking over 28 Mayan languages .

5. Location
• Developed in the area that
today comprises :
• Southeastern Mexico
• All of Guatemala and Belize
• Western portions
of Honduras and El
Salvador.

6. League Of
Mayapan
• Ah Mekat Tutul Xiu established an alliance
between Uxmal, Chichen Itza and Mayapan in the
span of thirteen years (987–1007 AD).
• He founded the League of Mayapan; a confederation
between the Maya in Yucatán.
• This alliance existed from 987 to 1461.
• In 1441 Ah Xiu Xupan, the great ruler of Uxmal,
warred Cocom.
• By 1461 the league was completely disintegrated.

7. The Incan Civilization
• It was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America.
• The administrative, political and military center of the
empire was in the city of Cusco.
• Arose from the Peruvian highlands sometime in the early
13th century.
• The Spanish began the conquest of the Inca Empire in 1532
and its last stronghold was conquered in 1572.

8. Location
• Peru
• Western Ecuador
• Western and south-central Bolivia
• Northwest Argentina
• Large portion present day Chile
• South-westernmost tip of Colombia

9. The Aztec Civilization
• Flourished in central Mexico from 1300 to 1521.
• Aztec culture was organized into city-states (altepetl)
• Three city-states were established:
1.Tenochtitlan
2.Texcoco
3.Tlacopan

10. Location
• The legendary origin of the Aztec
people has them migrating from a
homeland called Aztlan to what
would become modern-day Mexico.

11. Part II
European Colonialisation

12. Conquistadors
• Refers to Spanish soldiers, explorers,
and adventurers who took over
much of the Americas in the name of
Spain between 15th and 19th
century after Columbus discovery of
the New World .
• Most searched for gold and
territory.

13. Hernán Cortés
• Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st
Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca.
• Led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec
Empire.
• Cortés was part of the generation of Spanish
explorers and conquistadors who began the first
phase of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

14. La Noche Triste
• Meaning “The Night of Sorrows” “The Sad Night"
• Was an important event where in Hernán Cortés, his
army of Spanish conquistadors, and their native allies
were driven out of Tenochtitlan.
• Date : June 30- July 1, 1520
• Location : Shores of Lake Texcoco, Mexico
• Result : Aztec Victory

15. Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire
• Also known as the Conquest of Mexico or the Spanish-Aztec War (1519–21)
• One of the primary events in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
• Combined forces to defeated the Mexica of Tenochtitlan over a period of
two-years
• This marks the beginning of Spanish rule in central Mexico, and they
established their capital of Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

16. Francisco Pizzaro
• Famous for conquering the Incas and executing
their leader, Atahuapla
• Best known for his expeditions that led to
the Spanish conquest of Peru

17. Reasons for the
Victory of
Spaniards
• Aztecs initially thought off Cortés as their God
• Diseases such as smallpox, measles, influenza
• Alliances with Aztec enemies
• Spanish technology - Canons, guns
• Method of warfare
Aztecs fought to capture the enemy while the
Spanish fought to kill the enemy

18. Part III
Freedom Revolutions

19. Toussaint L’Ouverture

20. Independence Of Haiti
• Was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture.
• 1791 : Slave revolt against French in Hispaniola
• 1795 : L’Ouverture helped French defeat Spanish.
• 1801 : L’Ouverture invades Spanish colony; frees slaves
• 1802 : French try to regain control of Haiti
• L’Ouverture dies in French prison.
• 1803 November : Defeat of last French forces
• 1804 : Haiti is declared independent
• First Caribbean country to overthrow colonies

21. Impact of Napoleonic Invasion of Spain and
Portugal
• The American and French revolutions provided
inspiration to the Latin Americans .
• The Napoleonic invasion of Spain and Portugal quicken
the process of liberation struggle in South America

22. Simon Bolivar

23. Simon Bolivar
• Wealthy Venezuelan who spent many years travelling Europe .
• While in Italy he discovered his life purpose : deliberate his homeland from Europeans.
• 1810 : Bolivar’s army kick Spanish governor out of Venezuela.
• 1811 : constitution of Venezuela was proclaimed
• Due to Spanish forces Bolivar fled to Columbia
• He organised a bigger army and won over Venezuela’s capital in 1813.
• He's nickname El Liberator or the Liberator .

24. Pedro I
• The founder and first ruler of the Empire of
Brazil.
• As King Dom Pedro IV, he reigned
briefly over Portugal, where he also became
known as “The Liberator" as well as “The
Soldier King”
• When the country was invaded by French
troops in 1807, he and his family fled to
Portugal's largest and wealthiest colony, Brazil.

25. Independence Of Brazil
• Freedom of the Kingdom of Brazil from the United Kingdom of Portugal
Brazil and the Algarves as the Brazilian Empire.
• On September 7th , 1822 Prince Regent Dom Pedro declared Brazil's
independence.
• Formal recognition came with a treaty three years later, signed by the new
Empire of Brazil and the Kingdom of Portugal in late 1825.

26. The Monroe Doctrine
• The Monroe Doctrine was articulated in President
James Monroe's seventh annual message to Congress
on December 2, 1823.
• The European powers, according to Monroe, were
obligated to respect the Western Hemisphere as the
United States' sphere of interest.
• President James Monroe’s 1823 annual message to
Congress contained the Monroe Doctrine, which
warned European powers not to interfere in the
affairs of the Western Hemisphere.

27. Disunity Among Latin American Nationalists
• Latin American nationalist Fort not only Spain and Portugal but also each other
• In 1821 Central America seceded from Mexico .
• Later 1839 Central America itself split into 5 republics (Costa Rica El Salvador
Guatemala Honduras and Nicaragua )
• Uruguay split from Brazil in 1828
• In 1830 Venezuela and Ecuador seceded from Gran Columbia the Republic
created by Bolivar .

28. Part IV
United States Of America

29. US Imperial Interests
• 1898 : Cuba and Puerto Rico were captured after defeating the
Spanish.
• 1898-1902 : Cuba was under US military rule.
• When the Americans finally left, they retained a naval station in
Cuba.

30. Platt Amendment
The amendment limited Cuba’s
• Treaty-making powers
• Restricted Cuba’s foreign debts
• Gave the U.S. the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence
• Allowed a U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay
• And initiated sanitation and health care efforts designed to lure U.S. investors to
the island.

31. The Roosevelt
Corollary of December
1904
• The President made an important amendment to the
Monroe doctrine.
• It authorised US intervention in Latin America “ in
order to maintain order”.
• After this, the Us became the dominant influence not
only politically but also in economics.

32. Great Depression in South America
• This period in Latin America saw the change in Government ruling,
economic and government policies and the economic performance of nations
within the continent.
• Latin American countries that were economically impacted by the Great
depression include Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, and Peru.

33. Dollar Imperialism
• Dollar Imperialism' is the term used to describe the policy of the
USA in maintaining and dominating over distant lands through
economic aid.
• It was heavily opposed by Latin Americans.

34. Good Neighbour
Policy
• President Franklin Roosevelt took
office determined to improve relations
with the nations of Central and South
America.
• Under his leadership the United
States emphasized cooperation and
trade rather than military force to
maintain stability in the hemisphere.

35. Latin America

36. Thank You